Papers of the family of John Heard
Couch, one of the original developers of the townsite of Portland, Oregon, and
his descendents, including members of the Glisan and Robertson families. Papers
include correspondence, legal papers, land ownership records, clippings, family
Bibles, journals of John Heard Couch, and papers concerning Couch's wife
Caroline and their descendants Caroline Wilson, Clementine Lewis, and Elizabeth
and Rodney Glisan. Of special note is John Heard Couch's logbook, 1853-1858,
for voyages on the ships
Chenamus and
Madonna; and the travel diary of Nan
Robertson, 1911-1912, written during a trip to San Francisco and Southern
Asia.

John Heard Couch (1811-1870) was an Oregon pioneer, sea captain,
merchant, a founder of the city of Portland and founder of an important and
influential Oregon family. During the 1840s he sailed ships financed by John
Cushing from his home town of Newburyport, Massachusetts, with supplies for
establishing a dry goods business in Oregon. In 1845 he claimed a square mile
of land on the Willamette River, known as Couch's Addition, in the heart of
what became Portland.

Well regarded among his fellow citizens as a fair and knowledgeable
man, Couch was rewarded by several public positions, including Oregon
Territorial Treasurer, Multnomah County Commissioner, Oregon Port Commissioner,
Oregon Port Warden, and U. S. Inspector of Hulls for Oregon. He married
Caroline Flanders (1807-1885), sister of his first mate George Flanders, in
1832. Flanders was also an Oregon pioneer, merchant and Portland founder,
becoming a partner in Couch's Portland land claim in 1850.

John and Caroline Couch had four daughters, three of whom married
influential Portland men. Caroline Elizabeth Couch (1833-1917) married Dr.
Robert Bruce Wilson, while Clementine Couch (1838-1914) started a family with
prominent Portland merchant Cicero Hunt Lewis (1826-1897). Elizabeth Raines
Couch's (1842-1926) husband, Dr. Rodney L. Glisan (1827-1890), the first
physician in Oregon Territory, was also an early Portland land owner and was
active in Couch's Addition's real estate activities after John Couch's
death.

Among Couch's descendants and relatives was Nan Robertson (1885-1928).
She was a sister of Thomas Robertson (1881-1924), who married Kathleen Burns
(1883-1970), a great-granddaughter of John Heard Couch.

Papers include: Legal documents (1850-1946) such as deeds, warranty
deeds, quit-claims, passport, wedding certificate, title abstracts, maps,
receipts, water right certificate, tax sale; correspondence (1846-1945) to John
H. Couch and others regarding property holdings; personal items, consisting of
memorabilia, a Bible from the ship
Chenamus, notes, newspaper clippings, and
a prayer book. Also included is the travel journal (1911-1912) of Nan
Robertson, an in-law of John H. Couch's great-granddaughter, documenting
Robertson's trip to Australia, New Zealand, India, and Indonesia via San
Francsisco.

The journal or log book (1843-1858) kept by John H. Couch includes
records of his voyages on the ships
Chenamus (1843-1844) and
Madonna (1849). Included is information on
weather, nautical position, and daily events on board. The book also contains
poems and water color illustrations of vessels.

Restrictions on Use

The Oregon Historical Society is the owner of the materials in the
Research Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication,
and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from the Research Library
before any reproduction use. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to
all of the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may
require seeking additional authorization from the copyright owners.

Logbook kept by John H. Couch during his voyages on the
Chenamus (1843-1844) and
Madonna (1849). Information recorded
includes date, weather, nautical position, and daily events on board. Logbook
also includes poems and several watercolor illustrations of vessels

1843-1858; 1843-1849

Box/Folder

4/1

Diary of Nan Robertson

Nan Robertson travelled with her family from Portland to San
Francisco via train, then by ship to Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, and
India. Entries are detailed and descriptive

Bible published by Nahum Haskell and Timothy Bedlington, Boston,
1828; used on ship commanded by John Heard Couch on trip from Newburyport,
Mass., to the Hawaiian Islands, 1847. Contains historical references on fly
leaf.

1828

Box/Folder

4/3

Prayer book of Mary Caroline Wilson Burns

The book of common prayer of the
Protesant Episcopal Church in the United States, published by D. Appleton &
Co., New York, 1860. Gift to Mary Caroline Wilson Burns (1857-1950) from her
mother, Caroline Elizabeth Couch Wilson (1833-1917). Inscribed "Ma. Carrie from
her Mother, Dec. 25th 1863"